The very beautiful old church of St Margaret's sits in the shadow of Westminster Abbey both literally and figuratively. It was built in the twelfth century by Benedictine monks as a parish church for the people of the surrounding area.
From 1486 to 1523 the church was rebuilt and became the parish church of the Palace of Westminster. It was also rebuilt later in the 18th and 19th centuries, but has largely retained its Perpendicular Gothic style.
Of particular interest is the East Window, a Flemish stained glass window of 1509, executed in honour of the betrothal of Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII.
The church has a vertical sundial, the dial on the east façade shows the time before astronomical (solar) noon, the dial on the west façade shows the time after noon.
Together with the Palace of Westminster and the Abbey, St Margaret's Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
